Truck



April 1 1,488,882 W. T. JOHNSTON TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W mmnjags.

TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. T. JOHNSTON Filed Feb. 18, 1918 April 1 w? i mwiwiiili r liiflilLwr ME:

hmo

l ipro l 192d.

VJlUill-If'" '1. JOHNSTON, Old NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR T ARTHUR 1%. BAR- BET E, 0F WINNETKA, ILLINOIS.

TRUCK.

Application filed. February 13, 1918.

To whom it may con-corn:

Be it known that l, l i irrnmr l. donnere-n a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Newport, in the county of Campbell, State of l'ientuclry, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in ilruclrs of which the "following is a specification reference heing had to the accom- Ly i ention to trucks of the type linown as elevating trucks designed he rsed for moving more or less heavy loads troni one point to another in factories, warehouses, etc. Such truclrs are characterised by the fact that they comprise a igiole main frame supported on wheels and a risi and falling lifting. frame carried by the main frame in such manner that when the b frame in its. lowermost position th truck be introduced under a suitaole platform on which the load is piled,

the truck and there deposited by reversing the movement of the lifting frame. The object oil my invention is to provide a strong. simple and efiicient l this 4.. 1 we I J- .l. er and my JlxQDtlOll COZlSlSLS in Lll'S line i roved combin on and arrangement of the members oil" to truck illustrated in the d eWlll S and hereinafter specifically po nted out u the accompanying drawings:

1g, l is a side elevation of my improved truck showing the lifting trance in its lowerr'iost position;

Fig. is substantially a central longitudivertical section showing the lifting if} in its elevated position;

'g'. is a plan view or" the truck in .1 lg. 1;

Fi 4 is on underside view of the forward nortion the truck; and

shown is .a vertical cross-section on line .7 -5 oi Fig. 3.

The main frame or my improved truck COW; side bars 6-? whici at th rear fcopnected by a transverse shaft 8 on I ich are mounted the rear wheels 910, 1 wheels being disposed between and adcent to the sidebars 6? respectively, shown in x fiat their front ends bars are connected by a cross- Serial No. 217,817.

head 11 which may be connected thereto by bolts 12 or other suitable means. Adjacent to the cross-head 11 is a transverse rod or shaft 13 which is secured to the side bars a short distance back of said crosshead, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

best shown in Fig. 2, the cross-head ll is provided centrally with an upwardly and iorwardly extending neck 1% which terminutes in an internally screw threaded cylindrical hearing 15, the axis of which is disposed vertically. 16 indicates a steering head which is cylindrical in form and is externally screw-threaded to lit in the bearing 15. Said steering head is provided with torwardly-projecting lugs 17 near its lower end, which carry a pivot or fulcrum 18 on which is mounted a lever 19 which serves not only as a lever for raising and lowering the lifting "frame, but also as a steering rod steering the front wheels. he clearly shown in Fig. 2, said lever is fulcrumed near its lower end 20, which is rounded and curved upward and is arranged to project into the bore of the steering head 16 at the lower end portion thereof. 21 indicates a plunger mounted in the bore of the steering head 16 and adapted to move longitudially therein, its lower end resting on the end 20 oi the lever 19 shown in Fig. 2-. By this construction it will be apparent that by raising the outer end of the lever 19 the plunger 21 will be permitted to descend and that by depressing the outer end of said lever the plunger 21 may be forced upward. indicate the front wheels oi the truck, which are mounted on a short transverse shaft 242 ournaled in lugs 25 provided at the lower forward portion of the steering head 16, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Thus, by swinging the lever 19 to one steering head with the cross-head of the main frame and holding such parts in proper operative relation to each other.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the plunger 21 is provided at its upper end with a conical socket 26 in which is mounted a rocking thrust bar 27, the lower end of which bears in the bottom of said socket as shown. By using a conical socket, as described, a plunger which s not cylindrical may, if desired, be employed. The function of this thrust bar will be hereinafter set forth.

2829 indicate the side bars of the lifting frame, which, at their rear ends, are con nected by a transverse shaft 30 and at their forward ends are connected by a transverse shaft 31, as shown in Fig. They are also connected by diagonal braces 3233, the rear ends of which are connected to the rear portions of the side bars 2829 and the forward ends of which are connected to the central portion of the shaft 31. These braces are also connected together near their forward ends by a bolt 3%, as shown in Fig. 3. The lifting frame is movably supported upon the main frame at the rear by swinging arms 3536, which connect the shafts 8 and 30, and at the front by similar arms 3?33, which connect the shafts 13 and 31. lhe arrangement is such that when the lifting frame is in its lowermost position the several arms 35 363738 will occupy an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1, their upper ends lying back of their lower ends. iVhen'the lifting frame is drawn forward, said arms will swing in a clockwise direction, viewed in the illustration of Fig. 1, until said arms assume approximately the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the lifting frame is raised as it moves forward. For the purpose of drawing the lifting frame forward to elevate it in the manner described in the en'ibodiinent of my invention illustrated, I employ a toggle comprising a link 39, and a pair of links 4i0l1. The link 39 is pivoted at one end on the central portion of the shaft 31 carried by the lifting frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is connected with the rear ends of the links lO-4l by a pivot 42, shown in F 2. The forward ends of the links 404i1 are mounted upon a pivot 43 mounted in a lug l carried at the forward side of the bearing 15 of the main frame, as shown in Fig. 2 so that the toggle mechanism extends over the thrust bar 27 and is connected with the main and lifting frames respectively at opposite sides thereof and of the axis of the steering member. The links 40-41 are also pivoted intermediately to the upper end portion of the thrust bar 27 by a pivot d5, the thrust bar extending between said links, as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the plunger 21 is moved upward by depressing the forward end of the lever 19, the toggle connecting the main and lifting frames will be deflected intern1ediately, the rear ends of the links 'aO l being moved upward toward the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby exerting a forward and upward pull upon the lifting frame through the link 39. When the steering lev r is moved in the opposite direction, the plunger 21 will descend, thereby lowering the lifting frame. It will also be apparent that the front wheels of the truck may all times be turned in steering the truck without regard to whether the lifting frame is in its raised, its lowered, or any intern'iediate posi tion, and that the operator has at all times full control of the load sinough the steering lever without regard to the position of the steering wheels. it is therefore unnecessary to turn the steering wheels int position parallel with the rear wheels when the lifting frame is to he raised, as is the case with many trucks of earlier design and construction.

F or the purpose of locking the lifting frame in its elevated position I provide a. latch lever 16, which is pivoted between its ends upon a suitable support, preferably the upper portion of the n ck 14, by a pivot ll, and is provided at its rear end with a notch e8 adapted to extend over andengage the cross-shaft 31 when the lifting frame is in its elevated position. The rear end of said. latch lever is rounded or beveled, as shown in Fig. 1, so that as the lif ing frame rises the shaft 31 strikes such beveled por tion and automatically lifts the latch, and when the lifting frame reaches its highest position the shaft 31 automatically enters the notch 18 and prevents said lifting frame from descending by holding it against rearward movement.

For the purpose of seal the lifting frame when latch I provide cushioning device in the form of a fluid or other suitable check 49, which at its rear end is pivote 1 upon the central portion of the cross-shaft 8 and its forward end is provided with a piston rod 50, the forward end of which is pivoted upon the bolt 34 between the braces 32 and 33, as shown in Fig. Obviously, since the rear end of the check is connected with the shaft 8 which is part of the stationary the descent of aced from the a frame, and the piston rod is connectetl with the lifting fr me by the bolt 04;. when the lifting fr -"1e is elevated the piston rod 30 will be r awn out, moving the piston toward the rward end of the checkf iVhen the lifting rame is released from the latch 4:6 and begins to descent. t. e piston 50 will he forced back, bringing the check into operation so that the descent of the lifting frame will be retarded and cushioned. If

desired, the checlr used may be of tie type provided with a spring, such are com monly provided in door checks, to initiate the downward movement of the lifting frame.

I l ave described With great particularity the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it Will be evident that the construction illustrated is subject to modification in many nmiosseu tial respects, and, therefore, l do not limit myself to the specific construction shown and described except in so far as it is particularly claimed, my invention including generically the subject-matter of the broader claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"

1. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting fran'ie, a rotatable steering inen'iber, a thrust mem ber associated with said steering member, means for actuatinx said thrust member, and means connected with the main lifting frames at opposite sides of the axis of the steering member and arranged to be deflected by said thrust member to raise the lifting frame.

2. A lifting trucl: comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member having a central opening, an upwardly movable n ember operating in said opening, means for moving said member upward, and means connected With the main and lifting frames at opposite sides of said opening and to be deflected by upward movement of said meme her to raise the lifting frame.

3. lifting truck, comprising main frame, an GHClWlSQ movable lifting frame, supporting and steering Wheels, a steering head rotatably connected With said main frame, a plunger mounted in said steering head, means connected with said main and lifting frames anc adapted to be deflected by said plunger to move said lifting frame endwise, and means mounted on said steering head and adapted to be operated to project said plunger.

lifting truck, COZHPTlSlD main and frames, a steering member rotatably ted with said main frame, a lever connected with sai steering nember, reciprocating means movable longitudinally in said steering member coarrially therewith and adapted to be actuated said lever, and means connectec With said main and lifting frames and erending over and actuated by a reciprocating means for raising said frame.

lifting truclr comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, 'atable steering member having a cent 'al upwardly movable member op in said opening, means connected With the main and lifting frames at opposite sides of said opening and arranged to be deflected by upward inovei'ncntof said member to raise the lifting frame, and a steering lever associated with said steering member and adapted to operate from any steering position to move said member up- Ward.

6. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering Wheels, an internally screw-threaded bearing carried by said main frame, a cylindrical screw-threruled steering head fitted in salt bearing, a cylindrical plunger mounted in said steering head, means cooperating with said plunger for raising said lifting fra so, and a lever mounted on said steering head and adapted to be operated to project .iid plunger.

7. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, suppo ting and steering Wheels, a steering me LIJGl' rotarably assol with main name and having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical plunger mounted in. said steering member, toggle mechanism cooperatin with said plunger to raise the lifting frame, and a lev r mounted on said steer member and extending under said plunger, whereby by operating said lever said plunger may be projected.

8. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering Wheels, an internally screw-threaded bearing carried by said main frame, a cylindrical screw-threaded steering head fitted in said bearing, a cylindrical plunger mounted in said steering head, toggle mechanism co'opcrating with said plunger for raisin said lifting frame, and a lever mounted on said steering head and adapted to be operated to project said plunger.

9. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering Wheels, a steering member rotatably associated u ith said main frame and having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical plunger mounted in said steering member, a thrust bar mounted on said plunger, means actuated by said thrust bar for raising the lifting frame, and a lever mounted on said steering member and extending under said plunger whereby by operating said lever said t lunger may be projected.

10. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels. an internally screw-threaded bear ing caried by said main frame, a cylindrical screw-threaded steering head fitted in said bearing, cylindrical plunger mounted in said steering head, a thrust bar mounted on said plunger, means actuated by said thrust bar for raising the lifting frames, and a lever mounted on said steering head and adapted to be operated to project said plunger.

11. A lifting truck, comprising main steering member and extending under said plunger, whereby by operating said level said plunger may be projected.

12. ii lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, .5 porting and steering wheels. an internall screw-thread d bearing carried by said main frame, a cylindrical screw-threaded steering head fitted in said bearing, a cylindrical plunger mounted in said steering head. a thrust bar mounted on said plunger, toggle mechanism actuated by said thrust bar for raising the lifting frame, and a lever mounted on said steering head and adapted to be operated to project said plunger.

13. A. lifting truck, con'iprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels, a steering mom 1' rotatably associated with said main frame, a lever connected with said steering member, a toggle connected with said main and lifting frames, and 21 plunger actuated by said. lever in any steering position thereof for operating said toggle to raise said lifting frame.

1 A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels, a. steering member rot-stably associated. with said main frame, a lever connected with said steering member, a toggle connected with said main and lifting frames, and a plunger actuated by said lever in any steering position thereof for operating said toggle to raise said lifting frame, said lever being arranged to swing laterally independently of said toggle mechanisn 15. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels, a screw-threaded bearing carried by said main frame, a steering member thread ed to fit said bearin a. handle connected with said steering member, and means p erated by said handle for raising said lifting frame.

16. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels, a screw-threaded bearing carried by said main frame, a ed to it said bearing, a handle connected with said steering member, and means mounted in said steering member and oprated by said handle for raising said lifting frame.

17. A lifting truck, comprising a main frame, supporting and steering wheels, an endwise movable lifting frame, swinging steering member thread links connecting said lifting frame with said; frame,a steerin member rotatably f 'ith said main frame, a lever con- ;ected with said steering member, reciprocating means co-axially arranged with ref- 0 n A "rame will said main frame, a rotatahly associated with said mam frame, a lever connected with said ember, reciprocating means coc steer-in member and adapted to be projected bv operation of said lever, and toggle cooper .ting with said recipr0cat aising said lifting frame.

truck, comprising a main i; incl su a ortinr" and stee-rin wheels a lift- 7 swinging links connecting said i :e with said main frame, a rotary ieinber havin tubular bore, a "ountcd in said bore, a lever connected with said steering member and adaptto be Operated to project said plunger, 2. bar carried by said plunger, a link ted vith said thrust bar and pivotally con ected with said main frame, and a link col nected with said first-mentioned link and with said lifting frame.

lifting truck, comprising main and rames, a steering member rotatably 1 c1ated with said main frame, a plunger mounted in said steering member and having a conical socket, a thrust bar mounted in said socket, means actuated by said thrust bnr lifting the lifting frame, and a lever for actuating said plunger.

21. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, a steering member rotatably associated with said main frame, a plunger mounted in said steering member and having conical soc zet, thrustbar mounted in said socket, toggle mechanism actuated by said thrust bar for lifting the lifting frame, and a lever for actuating said plunger.

22. A lifting truck comprising a main nne, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a stable steering member, reciprocating 3 associated with said steering member, connected withthe main and liftin frames and extending over said steering in mber to be actuated by said reciprocating means to raise the lifting frame, and means for actuating said reciprocating means.

23. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member, reciprocating "ially arranged with r ference to saidtit! - with the main and lifting over said reciprocatbe actuated thereby to raise the nine, an'l a steering lever arranged to actuate said reci rocating means regardless of its steering position.

lilting tru-l: comprising amain an upwardly movable lifting frame, coring member rotatabl v associated with said main frame and having a vertically disposed opening therein, a thrust member movable in said opening, means connected with the main. lilting frames at opposite sides of said thrust member and adaptdei ,eted thereby to raise the liftand means for actuating said 25. A 1 frame, an 7 steering member rot-stably associated with i' ting truclr comprising a main wardl movable lifting frame,

said main frame and having a vertically disposed opening therein, a thrust member movable in opening, means connected with the n sin and lift' frames at opposite of said thrust member and adapted to me deflected thereby to raise the lifting frame, 11 l a steering lever operable from any steerinposition to actuate said thrust member.

6. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member, reciprocating means carried by said steering member, togmechanism connected with said main and lifting frames and adapted to be engaged and deflected by said reciprocating means to rai the lifting frame, and means operable from any steering position for actuating said reciprocating means.

27. ii lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering men her, a rocking thrust nien'iber mounted on said steering member ant. movable vertically, toggle mechanism connected with said main and lifting frames and adapted to be engaged and deflected by said rocking thrust member to raise the lifting frame, and means for actuating said rocking thrust member.

28. lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, a steering member pivotally connected with said main frame, a plunger mounted on said steering member, means actuated by said plunger for raising the liftin frame, and a steering lever mounted on id steering member extending under said plunger for actuating the same regardof the steering position of said lever,

29. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, a steering member pivotally connected with said main frame, a plunger mounted on said steering member, toggle mechanism actuated by said plunger for raising the lifting frame, and lever mounted on said steering member and extending under said plunger for actuating the same.

Witt. T. JOHNSTON. 

